EXHIBIT
(24)  POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONandG. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the true
and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of
the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys Annual
Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, File
Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause the
same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended
to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary
and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby
ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/ D.
  RANDY LANEYD. RANDY LANEY


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONand
G. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the
true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,
File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause
the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being
intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing
necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of
them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  ALLAN T. THOMSALLAN T. THOMS


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONand
G. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the
true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,
File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause
the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being
intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing
necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of
them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  BONNIE C. LINDBONNIE C. LIND


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONand
G. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the
true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,
File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause
the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being
intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing
necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of
them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  BILL D. HELTONBILL D. HELTON


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONand
G. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the
true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,
File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause
the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being
intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing
necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of
them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  ROSS C. HARTLEYROSS C. HARTLEY


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONandG. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the true
and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of
the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys Annual
Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, File
Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause the
same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended
to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary
and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby
ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/ B.
  THOMAS MUELLERB. THOMAS MUELLER


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONandG. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the true
and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and stead of
the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys Annual
Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, File
Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause the
same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being intended
to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing necessary
and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned hereby
ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of them,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  JULIO S. LEONJULIO S. LEON


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONand
G. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the
true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,
File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause
the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being
intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing
necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of
them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  KENNETH R. ALLENKENNETH R. ALLEN


POWER
OF ATTORNEY  KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Kansas, does hereby
constitute and appoint W. L. GIPSONand
G. A. KNAPP, and each of them, the
true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, to sign the name of the undersigned to the Companys
Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009,
File Number 1-3368, to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and to any amendment thereto, and to cause
the same to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it being
intended to give and hereby giving and granting unto said attorneys-in-fact,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any act and thing
necessary and proper to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned could do if personally present; and the undersigned
hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact, or any one of
them, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 3rd day of February 2010.   /s/
  PAUL R. PORTNEYPAUL R. PORTNEY